Pneumatic pumping apparatus



June 21, 1932- SMALL I 1,863,701

PNEUMATI C PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 15, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 1N VENTOR 6e alga 5. 57774 I 57 BY I I A TTORNE Y June 21, 1932. G. B SMALL PNEUMATIC PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Nov, 15, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVENTOR A TTORNE Y June 21, 1932. B SMALL 1,863,701

PNEUMATI C PUMPING APPARATUS A TTORNE Y Patented June 21, 1932 om'reo STATES PATENT FFICE.

GEORGE B. SMALL, or TULSA, OKLAHOMA, AssIGNoa or THREE-FOURTHS TO 'rInAL- OIL COMPANY, OF TULSA, OKLAH M A CORPORATION OF OKLAHOMA PNEUMATIC PUMPI G PPARATUS Application filed November 15, 1929. Serial No. 407,397.

My invention relates to pneumatic pumping apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus of that character for automatically evacuating oil wells of limited production at intervals determined by rapidity of accumulation of fluid in the wells, the present invention constituting an improvement on the apparatus disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,724,854 and No. 1,7 24,858,

issued to me under date of August 13, 1929, and having for its principal object the adaptation of such apparatus for use on wells of difi erent depths, capacities and gas pressures; the principal novelty of the present invention consisting of employment of the air or gas pressure, regardless of its degree, and of differential pressures in the discharge llne, regardless of degree of the discharge 3 line pressure or of the total volume of discharge for control of supply of gas or air for discharging the Well.

'In accomplishing these objects, I have provided improved details of structure, the

- preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of apparatus embodying my invention, connected with the casing head, the tubing and thedischarge line of an oil well.

Fig. 2 is a vertical perspective section of the pumping apparatus and portions of the well, showing the major and minor air flow valves closer. i

i F ig; 3 is a similar sectional view showing the valves open. 1 f i Fig. 4 is a vertical section ofthe minor flow valve mechanism on the line 44, Fig. 5, showing the minor valve closed.

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the minor flow valve mechanism on the line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the minor valve head. i

Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal section of .the pressure reducing element in the minor 'flow supply line.

cap rock 2 to a shot hole 3 in oil Referring in detail to the drawings 1 designates a well hole leading through sands 4; 5

the well casing supported by a shoe 6 on the T cap rock'2; 7 a casing head, and 8 tubing extending through a stufling box 9 in the casinghead and through the casing into the shot hole of the well, all in accordance with ordinary practice. A

Suspended from the lower end of the tubing within the shot hole is a trap 10 havin a reducing coupling 11 on its lower end carrying a strainer 12, the upper end of which projects into the trap. Mounted on the strainer within the trap is a foot valve 13 having ports 14 opening to the trap, and provided on its upper end with a nipple 15.

Mounted on the foot valve and communicating with the nippleis a pipe 16 which ex-' tends up through the tubing 8 to anchorage in a T-fitting 17 on the top of the tubing above the casing head. Connected with: and extending above the T-fitting is a coupling tube 18 carrying a V enturi tube 19 having a Threaded into one of the connections of i V the T-fitting 17 is a pipe 24 communicating with the tubing 8 through the annulus in the fitting about the discharge pipe, and mounted onsaid pipe 24 is a major flow valve.

housing 25 which will presently be described in detail, the pipe 24 being equipped with an orifice coupling 26 for preventing a sudv the pipe,

den rush of air or gas into the well and thereby obviating obstruction of valves inthe line by dust or dirt which mightbe carat its upper end, and the vent chamber hav- 7 ing an outlet line 35 through which air vented from the tubing to chamber 32 may be conducted to a distance from the valve housing.

U Extending vertically in the housing 25 coaxially with'the throat 33 is a bore 3 6 opening to a diaphragm chamber 37fo'rmed by flanges 38 and 39 on the upper face of the head 40 and on the under face of a cover member 41 held to the head 40 by bolts 42, a flexible diaphragm 43 extending across the diaphragmchamber and having its edge interposed between the flanges 38 and 39 of thehousing head and cover member to anchor the diaphragm securely'in place. The diaphragm 43"constitutes a motor for opening the major valve as will presently be disclosed. Slidable in the bore 36'is a piston 44 having a valve head 45 on its lower'en'd adapted for cooperation with the seat 34 to close the throat'33 and prevent escape of air or gas, hereafter referred to as air, through the throat and to the vent chamber32, and of such length as to extend into the diaphragm chamber 37 and flex the diaphragm when.

the piston isin'itsup'per position,

Fixed to'the piston 44 is a stem 46 which extends through the throat33, the distributing chamber 30 and the throat 29 into the chamber 27, where it carries a valve 47 having a face -48adapted for cooperation with theseat 28 to preventflow of air from chamber-27 into the distributing chamber 30. Threaded into the chamber 27 is the coupling 49 of a major flow line 50, through which air is supplied under high pressure from arcompressor or other suitable source indicated at 51.

Mounted adjacent the housing 25, preferably by arms52 on the cover member of the major valve housing, is. a minor flow valve housing made up of severalparts but designated generally by the numeral 53, and including a'centraL member 54 containing a chamber 55 counterbored to accommodate the gland of a stufiingbox 56.

Attachedto the bottom of the'centr al Inember 54 by'bolt and flange coupling is a lower diaphragm unit 58 including a cap 59 attached to the body of theunit by the usual bolt and flange coupling indicated at 60, the body member and cap having flanges 61 62 forming achamber 63 for the diaphragm 64 .72v having its edge clamped between the flanges 697O of the body and cap members. The lower section of the chamber 71 is extended downwardly to form a guide chamber- 73 having a clearance extension'73 for the guide member 74 on the diaphragm 72. The. cap member 68 includes a dome 75 housing a chamber 76 having open communication with the upper section of the diaphragm chamber '71..

Located in the chamber 55 of the central housing member 53 is a-slide valve 80 having anarcuate end 81 of a curvature corresponding to the wall of the chamber, and provided with a recess 82 adapted for establishing communication between an inlet port 83 and a vent port 84 when in one position; the valve being of such depth as to expose the port 8.3 to the lower portion of the chamber 55 when the valve is in its elevated position. 7

The valve member 80 has flat, tapered sides 8586 providing channels in the chamber 84, through which the port. 83 may communicate with an inlet port 87 the valve member having' a guide groove 88 in its reduced end,

into which a stud 89' on the inner wall of the in said housing and carries a head 94 inits lowerfend fixed to h di p 64 and to the reinforcing strip 95 on said diaphragm. Slidable in the stuffing box 56on the body member. 67 of the upper diaphragm housing 66 and in a bore 97 in said body member is a stem 9S-secured to thehead 74 in the. lower section 73 of the chamber in said housi'ng, 'and engageable with the diaphragm 72 therein.

The diaphragms 64 and .72 at the ends of the secondary valve housing constitute motors'for opening and closing the secondary valve as will presently be described.

housing 53 andiits containedparts is for ef; fecting opening and closing of the maj or flow line valve to control-supply of air to the well underhigh pressure-for discharging the well, and isoperated to open the valve by a minor flow of airand'to close the valve in response The valve structure represented .by the to differential velocities of flow of fluid. in the well discharge line, as I will now describe.

Opening from the major flow orhigh pressure air line 50 is a T-coupling 100. Leading from one branch of the coupling is a line 101 including a pressure reducer 102, preferably consisting of a barrel 103 containing a plurality of spaced orifice plates 104 providing a plurality of expansion chambers and reducing throats for effecting progressive drop in pressure of the air flowing therethrough. I

The line 101 carries a T-fitting 105, one branch 106 of which connects through a T- fitting 107 with a line 108 extending through the well casing to a point in the well exterior to the trap 10 and below the level to which oil will rise in the well under its natural pressure so that when the well has filled to its natural level, the lower end of the line 108 will be submerged and liquid sealed.

Also leading from the T-fitting on the line 101 is a line 110 terminating in a port 111 in the cap member 59 of the lower diaphragm housing of the secondary valve mechanism, and communicating with the lower section of the diaphragm chamber 63 in said housing so that air fromthe high pressure line, after reduction in pressure, will flow to the well and to the diaphragm chamber 63 under the same pressure when the line 108 is unsealed. Vhen the line 108 is sealed by submergence in the well, pressure builds up in the line leading to the diaphragm chamber to a degree equal to that of the submergence head in the well.

Opening from the top of the well is a line 112 leading through a port 113 into the top section of the lower diaphragm chamber 63 of the secondary valve mechanism so that, when the line 108 leading to the well is open, absolute pressure in the well is equalized responsive to air supplied to the well through line 108 and to gas originating in the upper and lower sections of the diaphragm chamber.

Leading from the coupling 100 on the high pressure or major flow line to the port 87 of the slide valve chamber 55 is a line 114, through which air under high pressure but in reduced volume may pass from the major flow line to the valve chamber for passage around the slide valve 80 to the outlet port 83 when the latter is opened by elevation of the slide valve, air passing through the line 114 being trapped in the chamber 55 when the port 83 is closed.

Connected in the port 83 is a line 115 leading to a port 116 in the cap member 41 of the major valve housing 25, and opening to the upper section of the diaphragm chamber 37 in said housing, so that when the line 115 is open a minor flow of air passes to the chamber in said housing for actuating the diaphragm.

WVith the parts heretofore mentioned constructed and assembled as described, the ma jor valve is held closed by pressure of air in the major flow line against the valve 47, and the minor flow of air to the diaphragm motor 43 is shut off by the slide valve 80 which as sumes its lowest position when pressure on the diaphragm in the lower housing of the sec ondary valve mechanism is under balanced pressure due to open communication of the lines 108 and 11 2 with the well when the line 108 is not submerged.

When the line 108 is submerged, pressure building up in lines 108 and 110 expands the diaphragm 64 to lift the slide valve and open the port 83 so that air from line 114 may pass through the slide valve chamber and line 115 to operate the major valve motor and open the major valve.

As soon as'flow to the Well is established through the major or high pressure line, equalization of pressure on the slide valve opening diaphragm is reestablished through a vent fitting 117 onthe minor flow line 108, including a diaphragm housing 118 containing a chamber 112, the lower section of which is connected with the line 108 through a throat 120 having vent ports 121.

The throat 120 hasa downwardly facing valve seat 122 for a ball valve 123 on a stem 124 having a head 125 attached to the dia- L;

phragm 126 in chamber 119, the ball valve being yieldingly held to its seat by a spring that the slide valve may be returned to closed position. The slide valve, however, remains in its elevated position to permit continuation of minor flow of air to the major valve motor for retaining the valve open until it returns to shut off the minor flow by-actuation of the diaphragm motor in the upper housing section 66, as I will now describe. I

Opening from the chamber 20 in the Venturi tube is a line 130 leading through a port 131 in the cap member of the motor housing 66 into the upper section of the diaphragm chamber 71 in said housing, and opening from the Venturi throat 21 isa line 132 leading through the'port 133 of said upper diaphragm housing to the lower section of said diaphragm chamber 71, through the valve head chamber 73 and through a branch port 134 so that under normal conditions of low velocities in the Venturi chamber and throat, there will be such low difierential of pressure in the upper and lower: sections of the diaphragm chamber 71 as not to unbalance the diaphragm, but under-certain conditions of discharge of the well, pressure in the upper 5 section of the diaphragm chamber will exceed that in the lower section, and the slide valve will be:closed in response to the differential in pressures induced by differential in velocities in the 'Venturi tube.

Assuming the parts to be constructed and assembled as described, with the valve mechanism connectedwith the well and pressure in the major flow-line, when thewell' starts to fill the major flow valve is closed by pressure 5 in themaj or line and the secondary slide valve is in its lowermost position (Figs. 2 and 4), venting the diaphragm chamber in the major valve housing and cutting ofi supply of air to the major valve chamber.

The minor flow of air through the branch on the high pressure line passes through minor flow line 108 into thewell casing above 7 the'incomin oil, and also-passes through the line 110'to t e bottom of the lower section of the bottom-diaphragm housing of the secondary valve mechanism;- air leaving the well through the line 11.2 passing tothe upper section of said diaphragm housing under the same pressure as the air in the lower section,

1: thereby equalizing pressures on the diaj V phragm. -Pressures 1n the Ventun chamber 20"and throat 21 being equal under these conditions, pressures in the upper-and lower sections in the diaphragm chamber at the top of the secondary valve mechanism are also equalized through the lines 130 and 132. Consequently, the slide valve remains in its lower position heretofore described. Oil entering the well from the sands rises in the shot hole and through the foot valve in the trap 10, filling the trap and eventually submerging and liquid sealing the minor flow or low pressure line 108 at the outside of the trap. When the line 108 is liquid sealed, pressure is built up in line 110 leading to the lower section of the bottom diaphragm chamberof thesecon dary valve mechanism greater than that supplied to the upper chamber through the line 112 due to submergence of the line 108, expanding the diaphragm'and lifting the slide valve, thereby establishing com- .municationbetween the'branch 114 leading from the high pressure line and the line 115 leading to the upper section of the diaphragm chamber of the major valve motor, building diflerential areas of the diaphragm in said chamber and the head of the major valve,

shifts the valve and opens the major flowline to the top ofthe trap through the tubing 8; simultaneously opening the vent valve 123 in the fitting 117 that is connected with the major flow line;- thereby relieving pressure on the bottom of the lower diaphragm of the lower sections of the upper diaphragm chamher of the secondary valve mechanism as to produce no operative efiect on the diaphragm;

The discharging oil travels at increased velocity as the head rises in the line, thereby increasing the differential in the Venturi chamber and throat until, when the head of oil has been practically discharged, the differential in velocity has produced a differential otpressures in the respective sections of the upper diaphragm chamber of the secondary valve mechanism sufiicient to permit the pressure in the upper section to expand the diaphragm, and thereby lower the stem 98 into thrust engagen'ient with the slide valve v to move the valve back to its original lowered position; thereby shutting off supply of air to the major valve motor and venting the upper section of the motor chamber so that the major valve may return to its seat under pressure of supply in the major flow line.

hen the vent valve for the minor flow line is opened upon the initiation of major flow to the well, pressure beneath the lower diaphragm of the secondary valve mechanism is relieved to permit a quick return of the slide valve in response to the increase in differential of pressures in the upper diaphragm chamber so that operation of the secondary mechanism immediatelyfollows the change in the differential in the upper chamber.

It is apparent from the foregoing disclosure that operation of the apparatus is entirely automatic in response to change of level of fluid in the well. and that the oper'a-' tion is responsive to differential pressures, and not affected by the dih'erencein actual pressures encountered in wells of different depths and ofconditions in different locali ties. Consequently, the apparatus is adaptable for universal use without necessity of adjustment for specific wells. I 7

lVhat I claim and desire tosecure by Let-' ters Patentis: n j

1. Pneumatic pumping apparatus including a well discharge line, a linegincluding a" primary valve, for supplying air under pressure to the well for discharging liquid from the well through said discharge line, and secondary valve mechanism responsive to change in velocity of liquid in the discharge line controlling the valve in the supply line.

2. Pneumatic pumping apparatus includ ing a well discharge line, a line, including a primary valve, for supplying air under pres i. sure to the well for discharging liquid from 1 the well through said discharge line, and secondary valve mechanism responsive to differential velocities of liquid in the discharge line controlling the valvein the supply line.

3. Pneumatic pumping apparatus including, in combination with a well having a discharge line, a line for supplying air under pressure to the well for discharging fluid from the well through the discharge line, and means responsive to change in pressures induced by change of level of liquid in the well for opening the supply line and to change in pressures induced by differential velocities of fluid in the discharge line for closing the supply line.

4. Pneumatic pumping apparatus including a well discharge line having a Venturi tube, a line for conducting air under pressure to the well for discharging liquidthrough the discharge line, a valve for said line, a motor for said valve, a line for conducting air under pressure to said motor, a valve in said conducting line, means for controlling opening of the conducting line valve, a motor for closing the conducting line valve, and lines providing communication between the Venturi tube and said conducting line valve motor whereby said motor is operated in response to differential in pressures in the Venturi tube.

5. Pneumatic pumping apparatus including a well discharge line having a Venturi throat, a line for supplying air to the well in major flow for discharge of liquid through the discharge line, a valve controlling the major flow line, a motor for said valve, a line for supplying air to said motor in minor flow for opening said valve, a secondary valve controlling the minor flow line, ad aphragm motor for the secondary valve, and

lines leading from the discharge line and from the Venturi throat to opposite sides of said diaphragm, wherein change in pressures responsive to change of differential of velocities in the discharge line and Venturi throat are efiective for actuating the secondary valve motor.

6. Pneumatic pumping apparatus including, in combination with awell, a trap in the well having a foot valve, a discharge line on the trap including a Venturi tube, a line for supplying a majorrfiow of air to the trap for evacuating liquid contents thereof through the discharge line, a valve in the major flow line adapted for closure by pressure in the line, a motor for opening the valve, a line for conducting air to said motor in minor flow for opening said valve, a valve in said conducting line, a diaphragm motor for the conducting line valve, lines leading from the discharge line and Venturi throat to opposite sides of the motor diaphragm for closing the valve in the conducting line in response to increased differential of velocities of fluid in the Venturi tube, a diaphragm motorfor opening the conducting 

